RJD leader Tej Pratap Yadav has recently been in the news, particularly following his expulsion from the party for six years, a decision made by his father, Lalu Yadav. Tej Pratap has claimed that he is being targeted by others because they recognize him as the successor to his father, aiming to carry forward his legacy.
In a recent interview, Tej Pratap indicated he would like his brother, Tejashwi Yadav, to become the Chief Minister of Bihar after the elections later this year, while he himself wants to be in the role of a kingmaker.
Tej Pratap, who married Aishwarya Rai, the daughter of a former Bihar minister, in 2018, was expelled last month from the RJD. The expulsion followed a post on X in which he shared a photo and mentioned that he was with a woman named Anushka Yadav with whom he had a 12-year relationship. The post was later deleted, and Tej Pratap said his account was hacked. Despite these claims, Lalu Yadav expelled him from the party for six years.
When asked why he believes he is targeted, Tej Pratap stated, “The people who target me, do it because they know I am the next Lalu Yadav; my voice is the same, my raw mannerisms are the same, and my grounded nature is the same.” He questioned whether the controversies around him had harmed the RJD’s image and implied he was being unfairly singled out.
On being expelled from the party, Tej Pratap said he felt bad and hinted at a conspiracy against him. He expressed deep respect for his parents, Lalu Yadav and Rabri Devi, describing them as being like God to him.
He continued, “My mother is always worried about me. As her elder son, I know she holds me very close to her heart. I don’t want to go into what the circumstances were or were not because it is purely political.”
Speaking about his relationship with Tejashwi Yadav, Tej Pratap admitted that there is some turbulence, but he is trying to manage the situation. “I am not interested in breaking relationships. I don’t want to spoil relationships with anyone. I always try to maintain relationships. When you are the elder brother, you have to fulfill the responsibilities of the elder brother,” he added.
Regarding Tejashwi Yadav becoming Chief Minister, Tej Pratap said, “Tejashwi should become the Chief Minister; he has my full support. I want to play the role of a kingmaker. Some people don’t like that I am connected to the ground; I raise issues that matter to the people without fear. This is what my father used to do, and this is what I, his son, should also do. People in the villages like people connected to the ground.”